Burt Mustin

At 92 years old, Burt Mustin has this physical status:

Burton Hill "Burt" Mustin (February 8, 1884-77) was an American character actor.

He appeared in over 150 film and television productions over the course of his career.

He has worked in radio and appeared in stage productions as well. After director William Wyler cast him in the 1951 film noir Detective Story, Mustin began his professional acting career at the age of 67.

Mustin, who is known for his dependability and versatility, went on to work as a well-known character actor and appeared in film and television from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Early life

Mustin was born in Pittsburgh, to William I. and Sadie (Dorrington) Mustin. His father worked as a stockbroker. Mustin graduated from Pennsylvania Military College (renamed Widener University in 1972) with a degree in civil engineering in 1903. He was the first trombone in the band and also served as a goaltender for their ice hockey team in 1902. He was the last surviving member of his 1903 class. He started as an engineer but later decided to go into sales. Mustin began selling Oakland Sensible Sixes in 1916. He later began selling the luxurious Franklins. After the Franklin company went out of business, he sold Mercurys and Lincolns until civilian vehicle production was suspended during World War II. He served as a fiscal agent for both the Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce.

Mustin did amateur acting and singing before beginning his show business career. He was the first announcer for a variety show broadcast on Pittsburgh's newly formed KDKA radio station in 1921. He appeared in productions in both the Pittsburgh Savoyards (a Gilbert and Sullivan troupe) and the Pittsburgh Opera. He was also a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, making his first trip to California in 1925 to compete in a quartet tournament held in San Francisco. During this trip, the couple and their wives enjoyed a trip to Hollywood as tourists, but Mustin was not interested in a film career at that time because of his coziness with his wife in Pittsburgh. To book accommodations during the trip, they used their Lions Club connections.

Mustin retired and moved to Tucson, Arizona. In a stage production of Detective Story, director William Wyler met him. Wyler told Mustin that if he wanted to pursue a film career, he'd need to look him up. Mustin did contact Wyler, who was cast in the 1951 film version of Detective Story. Mustin's acting career began after that, and he's since been cast in films and television series. He then moved to Los Angeles.

Personal life

Mustin was one of the original founders of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Lions Club, which was established in 1921. He served as one of the presidents and stayed active in the organization for the remainder of his life.

In 1915, Mustin married Frances Robina Woods. The couple lived together for 54 years until her death in 1969 and had no children.

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Career

Mustin made his television debut in 1951 with his appearance in the Western film The Adventures of Kit Carson. In 1953, he appeared in A Lion in the Streets, starring James Cagney. Mustin was one of the most well-known and busiest elderly actors from the start to end of his career, and with his long scarecrow frame, bald head, and beaked nose, he became one of the most popular and busiest elderly characters. Among many others, he appeared on Leave It to Beaver, The Abbott and Costello Exhibition, The Lone Ranger, Treasury Men in Action, The Public Defender, Treasury Men in Action, The Lone Ranger, Our Miss Brooks, It's a Wonderful Life, Peter Gunn, The Gale Storm Exhibition, The Gale Storm Exhibition, The Texan, and many others. Mustin appeared in the television series pilot episode of The Lone Wolf starring Louis Hayward in 1954.

In 1960, a Mustin guest appeared on The Twilight Zone in the episode "The Night of the Meek" alongside Art Carney. In 1962, he appeared in a second episode of the television series Kick the Can. He appeared in "The Guests," a version of The Outer Limits in 1964.

Mustin made one or two appearances on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Ichabod, and Me, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, The Monkees, The Bewitched, My Three Sons, Batman (episode 48), and Bewitched during the 1960s. He appeared in The Over-the-Hill Gang, a 1969 television series. The following year, he appeared in the sequel film The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again.

Mustin was also featured on several television shows during the 1950s and 1960s in addition to guest performances. He appeared in The Great Gildersleeve in 1955 as "Foley." He appeared on Date with the Angels from 1957 to 1958. "Gus the Fireman" on Leave It to Beaver made his first appearance as "Gus the Fireman" in 1957. Mustin will keep playing the role until 1962, making up a total of 15 appearances on the program. Judd Fletcher appeared on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960 as Judd Fletcher for the first time. He appeared in the role until 1966, but in Season 6, Episode 17 (Return of Barney Fife), he is referred to as "ole man Crowley." On two episodes of The Lucy Show in 1967, he also played "Old Uncle Joe" on two episodes. In three episodes of Petticoat Junction, a Mustin guest appeared as "Grandpa Jenson" for the following year.

Mustin continued with guest appearances on All in the Family, The Brady Bunch, The Love, American Style, Adam-12, Emergency! Sanford and Son (episode "Home Sweet Home for the Aged")

Mustin, a renowned comedian and song-and-dance performer, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the 1970s. He appeared in five episodes of All in the Family (his first appearance as a nightwatchman and four others in a recurring role as "Justin Quigley").

Mustin appeared on The Funny Side in 1971. The series, hosted by Gene Kelly, featured an ensemble of five married couples dealing with various topics through comedy sketches and song-and-dance routines. Mustin was portrayed as "the elderly couple" in the film opposite Queenie Smith. The series debuted on NBC in September 1971 and was cancelled in January 1972.

In the "Bobby's Hero" episode of The Brady Bunch during the 1972–73 season, a mustin guest starred as Jethroe Collins, a relative of a Jesse James victim.

Mustin appeared in the television film version of Miracle on 34th Street starring Sebastian Cabot, and had an uncredited role in the Disney television film Now You See Him, Now You Don't. Mustin's last film appearance was on Phyllis, in which he played the suitor and later husband of Sally "Mother" Dexter, a role he played until shortly before his death.

Mustin has appeared in numerous films in addition to his extensive television work. In 1951, he made his film debut in Detective Story at the age of 67. He continued this with his appearances in Talk About a Stranger (1952), Half a Hero (1954), and The Sheepman (1958).

Mustin appeared in The Adventures of a Young Man (1960), Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man (1963), What a Way to Go! (1964) Merlin Jones' Misadventures (1964), Sex and the Single Girl (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965) Cat Ballou (1964) (uncredited as a former gunman) ("Old... Old... Old... old...

?"

(60) The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1965) The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967) The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967), Speedway (uncredited) (1968), The Great Bank Robbery (1969), Mr. Hero (1969) and Skin Game (1971). Mustin appeared "Uncle Jeff" in the 1974 film Mame, starring Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur. He appeared in Herbie Rides Again, a minor role in 1974. In The Strongest Man in the World's next year, he appeared as "Regent Appleby" in The Strongest Man in the World. Clint Walker and Burl Ives appeared in Clint Walker's Hawk, his last film role in 1976.

TelevisionLand produced a series of commercials in 2000 recognizing the often seen but not well-known by name character actors who appeared in their films, with Mustin being included in one.

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